Senate panel OKs abortion bill requiring stricter standards

Updated 10:59 pm, Tuesday, March 19, 2013

AUSTIN - Abortion clinics would be required to meet stricter standards under a bill approved 5-2 by the Senate Health and Human Services Committee Tuesday after emotional testimony over whether the measure would protect women's health or risk it by causing clinics to close.

"My intent in filing this bill is only to protect Texas women who undergo this procedure," said Sen. Bob Deuell, R-Greenville, who authored the measure with two fellow doctors, Republican Sens. Donna Campbell of New Braunfels and Charles Schwertner of Georgetown.

Deuell said he doesn't think abortions should be legal, but he accepts reality, and that his bill isn't meant to decrease abortions or to close clinics.

Blake Rocap of NARAL Pro-Choice Texas said the measure would mean women would have less access.

"Your intention may not be to close down clinics" or create hardships for women, Rocap said, "but you don't get to choose the effect of your bill."

Has Perry's support

The stricter standards, which would require abortion facilities to meet the guidelines for ambulatory surgical centers, are supported by Gov. Rick Perry, a staunch abortion opponent.

"Texas has taken strong measures to protect life and protect women as they go through a very difficult, life-ending decision, and this bill will raise the standard of medical care for women undergoing this procedure," said Perry spokeswoman Lucy Nashed. "Women seeking an abortion should have a reasonable expectation that the procedure will be performed in a facility that is safe, sanitary and capable of handling possible complications."

Advocates for women's access to abortion said the stricter standards aren't necessary for the limited services provided by facilities that are licensed only to perform abortions, including those that use a pill to induce abortions without surgery.

Tthe requirements would include full post-operative areas and personnel who would be available for emergencies. Abortion rights supporters said the standards would mean potentially expensive additions or closure for facilities.

Surgical procedures

Deuell said the bill would apply to clinics that perform 50 or more abortions a year. He said he intends to adjust the wording to reflect that the standards are meant for clinics where surgical procedures are performed in relation to abortion.

Deuell said six ambulatory surgical centers provided abortions, but Braun said they are in large cities. Deuell pointed to a list of several hundred ambulatory surgical centers around the state, including in smaller towns, that don't perform abortions, saying they show that abortion facilities in those areas could meet the stricter requirements.

Of 37 licensed abortion facilities in Texas, 11 perform surgical abortions, said Amy Harper of the Texas Department of State Health Services. She said she believed none of the 37 would currently meet the criteria for ambulatory surgical centers. Of 72,470 abortions performed in Texas in 2011, about 60,000 were performed in licensed abortion facilities, she said.

Deuell said he is uncertain of whether he has the Senate votes to pass the measure. It requires a two-thirds vote to bring up a measure for debate.